Finally, temperatures in California have returned to normal and that is beneficial for packing export quality table grapes. "When it's 110°F or hotter, Brix retreats from the berries to the vines to protect the plants from dying," says Javier Negrete with World Fresh Exports. When that happens, the sugars drop, and it is important to stop picking. "When grapes have great sugars and flavor, consumers will often eat a bag of grapes in two days or less. However, if consumers don't like the grapes they purchased, they put them back in the fridge and can take a week to eat them. As a result, supermarket inventories back up and we lose incremental sales."
Left: Javier Negrete. Right: Sweet Sapphire™ grapes.
Specialty varieties
California is just beginning to harvest many of the specialty grape club varieties. Harvest of Candy Heart™, Sweet Sapphire™ and Sweet Globe™ will start this week for World Fresh Exports and the company expects to begin peak volume near the end of August. "These three Bloom Fresh varieties as well as Sweet Celebration™ are in strong demand for us and we also offer Sun World varieties, AUTUMNCRISP®. ADORA SEEDLESS®, and RUBY RUSH®." These specialty club varieties make up about 80 percent of World Fresh's California grape program. "Their quality stands out from regular varieties as their recommended standards of picking are higher." In addition, the number of grapes grown per acre is lower for club varieties. "Regular grapes yield about 2,000 boxes/acre while club varieties generate about 1,500 – 1,700 boxes per acre, which results in a better-quality berry," Negrete commented.
ADORA SEEDLESS® grapes.
Premium label for club varieties
Negrete is looking forward to a great California grape season. "I expect a record season for us and in addition, we will have better control over size, brix levels and general quality thanks to the addition of new team member Jose Gutiérrez (photo right) with 13 years of experience in quality control," he said. To distinguish the club varieties from regular varieties, they are now packed in World Fresh Exports' own premium label.
The packaging is color-coded for each variety, and it is kid friendly. The different colors make it easy for children to recognize their favorite variety. "In addition, the packaging contains graphics of kids as children like to see packaging with kids on it." The new packaging was introduced last year and has been shipped all over Asia. "In Korea, where the packaging has been particularly successful, it has already been established as the preferred label."
Exports as well as domestic sales
Traditionally, World Fresh Exports has been focused on exporting table grapes across Asia. China, Vietnam, Korea, and Malaysia are some of the key destinations. However, tariffs have resulted in a reduction of exports to China. "In the past, virtually all exports used to go to China, but today, it's only 10 percent," Negrete shared. While exports remain important, the company is building a domestic sales program for the U.S. and Canadian markets. "In Chile, we have a table grape program with U.S. supermarkets and the Chilean team is going to assist the California team with selling to U.S. supermarkets." It is the company's goal to continue its export program and simultaneously growing the domestic label, offering U.S. and Canadian retailers year-round supply.
Asia Fruit Logistica
From September 4 – 6, World Fresh Exports will be exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong. Visit the team at booth 5-5E20.
For more information:
Javier Negrete
World Fresh Exports, Inc.
Tel: +1 661 778 6038
[email protected]
www.world-fresh.com